Aspen
Colorado


The Experience

With an unbeatable location at the base of Aspen Mountain, just 50 steps from the gondola, the Little Nell is the only ski-in, ski-out hotel in Aspen. But location is only one reason to hole up at the elegant and cozy Little Nell; it has one of Aspen's finest restaurants in Montagna (along with a 15,000-bottle wine cellar). But Aspen's all about the chic quotient, and here it's sky-high: The après-ski is the hottest in town, and though the staff keeps its lips sealed about who's staying there, celeb sightings are frequent.

The Rooms

Think contemporary mountain lodge, where guest quarters feel more like chic private residences than a hotel -- even the smallest rooms are a whopping 600 square feet. It goes without saying to reserve a mountain view, but go for a premium room on the top floor, which comes with vaulted ceiling and a balcony. While each room has a different floor plan, every one has down-filled furniture and a fireplace (gas, unfortunately). The over-the-top 2,500-square-feet Paepcke Suite comes with its own steam room and 24-hour access to an Infinity SUV.

The Service

There's a reason that 60 percent of the rooms are occupied by return guests -- the staff handles hard-to-get dinner reservations even before guests arrive. And a ski concierge does much more than warm the boots, wax and carry skis and set up lessons; he also can arrange for guests to lay the first tracks of the day before the mountain opens.

The Highlights

Last winter's makeover traded a dark ski lodge aesthetic for 21st-century cool, boosting the see-and-be-seen factor of the Little Nell's Bar and Living Room, an über-hip hangout with double-sided fireplace and sweeping leather banquettes. And when you're that hip, you can serve farmhouse cuisine in an elegant restaurant with sexy booths and armchairs cushioned by loose pillows, and come off as ultrachic. Not only is Montagna chef Ryan Hardy known for his cooking, which relies on locally grown organic produce and meats, he also makes his own bacon, cheeses and prosciutto (aged in the wine cellar). Of course, food tastes better with an amazing view, and with a bang-on look at Aspen Mountain, Montagna doesn't disappoint.

-- Gail Harrington

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